“Many people in the UK have given up on the US, but by nominating a black man for president, you’ve really got our attention.”

English singer-songwriter Billy Bragg once called himself “a one-man band who thinks he’s the Clash.” There was the boldness, the brashness, the English-ness, the mix of punk and politics. Over the years, Bragg has crafted a persuasive body of music, merging the personal and the political, and he’s advocated socialism and worker solidarity from the stage. With Wilco, he composed two albums of songs from Woody Guthrie’s unpublished lyrics. He released his latest CD, Mr. Love & Justice (Anti-), this spring, and he plays Somerville Theatre this Tuesday and Wednesday.

Let’s start with the Clash — a force throughout your creative life.
I managed to get to the age of 20 without doing anything political, and they were the catalyst, the band that politicized me, really made me see how music and politics could be mixed. They played Rock Against Racism, and that induced me to take my first political action, going to the march in 1978. [Organized by the Anti-Nazi League and Rock Against Racism, the march, in April, from Trafalgar Square to the East End, culminated in a huge concert featuring the Clash and others.] I realized this was the issue that was going to define my generation: opposition to discrimination of all kinds. The Clash was a band full of contradictions. They didn’t change the world. You can’t change the world through music, but you can give people a different perspective on the world. By evoking the Clash, I make people realize we’re not alone trying to do this.

With the program “Jail Guitar Doors,” you’re helping to get guitars into prisons. Why?
You can take ’em back to your cell; you can use it as therapy. That’s how I use the guitar. When I’m feeling a bit low, I’ll sit down and have a strum, and it gets me to another place. And that’s what we’re trying to facilitate.

You always seem to show up in America before our Presidential elections.
It really gives me an opportunity to make a contribution to the debate. I’m a foreigner, I don’t have a vote, but I can add my voice, and over the years I’ve said, “When you vote for president, you vote a president for all of us, so be careful next time.”

I’ve been at concerts where people yell: “Billy, we’re with you! Shut up and play!”
I know, the whole idea of preaching to the choir. Actually, what you’re trying to do is inspire people, make those people feel they’re not alone. You are trying to recharge the batteries of your audience, and you do want to be a bit challenging. Sometimes they think they’re coming to a rock gig and get offended when you talk a bit, but anyone who’s been to a folk gig knows the bottom line with Woody Guthrie was communication. This is too good an opportunity to pass up when I’m in your country. Many people in the UK have given up on the US, but by nominating a black man for president, you’ve really got our attention. We’re pretty psyched about this election now; it would be great if you guys are as well. We’re on the verge of economic meltdown. What we wanna hear about is how we’re gonna create a fairer society.

State of Nirvana This article originally appeared in the March 11, 1994 issue of the Boston Phoenix.

Neo-new-what? The real album of the year is a disc that probably didn’t cross many people’s paths in 2006, a Rhino comp titled Future Retro that pairs various DJs/electronicists (Richard X, Tiga, the Crystal Method) with classic new-wave tracks by the Cure, Echo & the Bunnymen, Depeche Mode, and New Order.

Historical fictions There are Clash fans, and then there are Clash fans . And three more boxes: Gift ideas for the music fan on your list. By Matt Ashare

Boston music news: February 2, 2007 Local filmmaker Chris DiNunzio was working on a short horror movie titled “Miscreant” when he decided to take a break and help out his older brother Ralph, guitarist in the ’80s-’90s Boston hardcore punk band Wrecking Crew.

Holding out Hope A few weeks ago, I was sitting in a bar having a quiet late-afternoon cocktail when I became aware of an insistent, irritating noise.

AFTER IMAGES | May 28, 2010 Karen Finley won’t be naked, or covered in chocolate. Candied yams will not be involved. If there are neighborhood morality-watch squads in Salem, they’ll have the night off.

INTERVIEW: SARAH SILVERMAN | April 23, 2010 Recently, “Sarah” — the character played by Sarah Silverman on Comedy Central’s The Sarah Silverman Program — was upset because in today’s world it just wasn’t safe anymore for children to get into strangers’ vans.

TATTOO YOU | April 06, 2010 Dr. Lakra is no more a real doctor than is Dr. Dre or Dr. Demento. The 38-year-old Mexican tattoo artist’s real name is Jerónimo López Ramírez. As for “lakra,” it means “delinquent.” Or so I thought.

INTERVIEW: DAMON WAYANS | February 16, 2010 "Right now, my intent is not to offend. I just want to laugh. I want to suspend reality."